Cardiff in shock talks to sign "incredible" veteran manager to replace Riza

With results not improving under Omer Riza, Cardiff City are now reportedly in shock talks to hire a veteran manager who would be handed the task of salvaging their campaign.

Cardiff on course for relegation

Whilst in charge on an interim basis, Riza won over the trust of Cardiff and was soon handed the permanent managerial role as a result of his hard work. Since then, however, it has been a disaster. Now a point adrift of safety with just four Championship games to save their campaign, Cardiff could yet reportedly make one last-ditch change in the technical area.

The struggling manager called on the Cardiff fans for support in his side’s bid to survive recently after last Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City, telling reporters: “Regarding our fans, I think they were behind us for a lot of the game and when you’ve let a goal in on 85-90 minutes it’s expected that the hope goes from them and the only way they know to deal with it is to vent their frustration.

“All we can keep saying is that they’re important to us, the club is important to them, so they need to help the best they can. They are frustrated, I understand that. It’s hard for me to stand here and say what they should and shouldn’t do because who am I to tell them what their feelings are?

“All I can say is we’re trying our hardest and we all will continue to do that right to the end.”

In truth, however, it may be too little too late to call on such support with Cardiff now reportedly in talks with a potential replacement for Riza.

Cardiff in shock talks to hire Neil Warnock

In a shocking turn of events, Cardiff are now in talks to rehire Neil Warnock, according to Graeme Bailey via EFL Analysis. The veteran manager knows exactly what it takes to turn a club around, there’s no doubting that, and could yet return to the Bluebirds for the first time since a three-year stint between 2016 and 2019.

Bailey told EFL Analysis after confirming that talks have taken place: “Cardiff are considering making a change before the end of the season and former boss Neil Warnock is their preferred choice to come in.

“Omer Riza was given the permanent job in December having replaced Erol Bulut as boss and has battled hard to keep the club up since that point. However, the weekend’s loss to rivals Stoke City has left the Welsh giants in the bottom three and the club are now looking at bringing back former boss Warnock for their final handful of games to see if he can pull of a great escape.”

One of the most experienced managers around and someone who Pep Guardiola once described as “incredible”, Warnock could yet complete a surprise return to Wales before the end of the season.